The Teleportation Portal was packed with people.
What frustrated Annan was that they cared less about the glowing Arcane Core behind him than about how he had scraped together four hundred thousand Gold Coins in a single month. Back when Star-Moon Bay was at its lowest, he had let women paw at him for a few hundred Gold Coins.
"You've spent too long in that town, you bumpkins." Annan's outburst drew a range of responses.
"I'm not surprised."
"Let me through... I'm going fishing."
"Please insult us some more!"
"Sounds like you stole it from the Noble."
Annan ignored that odd remark and answered Faster. "More or less."
But Annan had been fair about it—he had taken anywhere from a few Gold Coins to a dozen or so from each Noble and wealthy merchant.
Now he had his eye on the Civilians too.
Then Olmedo said, "I guessed as much. You asked Claudia for so many Magic Stones."
Leila threw herself through the Teleportation Portal, and Annan had to catch her before his sister touched the Arcane Core and turned into a Void creature.
"Go with her."
Annan spoke helplessly to the Elementals, then stepped aside. "The rest of you, come too. Take a look at our future home."
"I like the way you put that." Faster stepped through the Teleportation Portal.
If he hadn't been clutching a fishing rod and hurrying along, Annan might have believed him.
Lady Fine Wine came next, along with Mr. Victor's niece, whom she was pushing; Rona Gillman and her brother; Aunt Susan's family; and Della. One by one, these familiar faces left Forest Town for the vast Gem Bay.
Annan looked toward Olmedo and Idelia at the back. Olmedo pushed her through the Teleportation Portal.
Only Abby, the maid, remained on the other